Drill hole deflector



Nov. 17, 1936.,

J. D. BRACK ET AL,

DRILL HOLE DEFLECTOR Filed Dec. 20, 1955 n l /v TORNEYS Patented Nov. 17, 1936 PATENT OFFICE DRILL HOLE DEFLECTOR John D. Brack, Sulphur, La., and Herman F. Whiton, New York, N. Y.

Application December 20, 1935, Serial No. 55,310

12 Claims.

The invention relates to rotary earth drilling and more particularly to a device used in changing` the direction of the bore of the well being drilled.

In rotary drilling it is sometimes desirable to change the direction in which the hole is being drilled; for example, an intended vertical hole actually may be proceeding at an angle, and it becomes necessary to change the bore of the hole to its original vertical direction. In some cases when drilling a normally vertical hole, it may be desirable to have the hole proceed at an angle to the vertical axis to avoid certain formations or to lead to other formations'.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device which may be used in changing the direction of the bore of a well.

Heretofore when it has been desired to change the direction of a bore it has generally been the 20 practice to'cement or otherwise secure a whipstock in a properly oriented position in the well and then continue the drilling. The inclined surface of the whipstock deflects the drill as it proceeds downwardly. In other devices known in the prior art the whipstock is secured to the drill so that it may be lowered therewith, and placed in position; the whipstock after having served its purpose may be subsequently removed from the well with the drill. 'In all of these devices of the prior art, lthe amount of deflection of the bore of the well that is obtained is dependent upon the length and angleof the inclined sur# face of the whipstock, and the amount of drilling that can be done before the drill has to be removed and the whipstock reset is limited by the length of the whipstock. v h

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which eliminates the use of Whipstocks entirely; the amount and angle of the deflection, therefore, that can be procured by using the device is not dependent upon the mechanical form and dimensions of a Whipstock.

It is also an object of the invention to pro# vide a device in which the amount of deflection may be controlled at will from the surface of the well, after the device has been lowered into the well.

The device comprising the invention makes it possible to eliminate the numerous trips in and out of the well now necessitated by conventional whipstocks.

The invention hask other objects and the device has other advantages, and includes other features of novelty in addition to those above mentioned as will be apparent from a-considera- (Cl. Z55-1) tion of the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in velevation diagrammatically illustrating the complete device in an operative position in the well. 5

Figure 2 is a view partly in a.A vertical section taken on line II-II of Figure 4, and partly in elevation showing a portion of the device in position in a well.

Figure 3 is a view partly in vertical section l0 and partly in elevation showing a portion of the device in closed position prio;` to being placed in operative position in the well.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.

The assembled drill hole deilector is illustrated in Figure 1, and consists of a laterally expansible membe indicated generally at A. Secured to the low r end of the member A is a limber joint I, to the bottom of which the drill 20 2A is secured. A limber joint 3 is secured at its lower end to the upper end of the member A by means of a suitable coupling 4; the upper end of the limber joint 3 is secured to the drill string 5 by a coupling 6. 25

The limber joints I and 3 are constructed of pipe of a diameter such that it will bend under the pressure exerted by the drill string during normal drilling operations.

The laterally expansible member A includes a 30 hollow stern 1, extending through the center of the tool. This stem is attached to and rotated by the limber joint 3 which is in turn attached to and rotated by the drill string 5. The drill string 5 extends to the surface of the well and 35 is rotatedby any well knownV driving mechanism. Drilling fluid may pass through the stem 1 and then through the opening 8 in the limber joint to exit around the drill 2. By this means the drilling fluid may circulate around the'drill and 40 to the surface oi the Well in the usual manner.

Around the stem 1 is an upper tubular body member 9 and a lower tubular body member I0, in telescoping relation thereto at the portions 9a and Illa. The body members may be moved axial- 45 ly with respect to each other. Attached to the stem 1 is a collar Il which is` located above an upper thrust bearing I2 mounted on a shoulder I3 within the upper body member 9. The collar Il receives the weight and thrust of the drill 50 string and through the bearing I2 transmits it to the body member 9. When the `stem 1 is moved downward, the body member 9 will thus be moved axially in va downward direction with respect to the lower body member I 0.

Between the stem 1 and the body members 9 and l0 isthe tube I4 which is threaded on its lower end to receive a collar I5, to which collar is attached the upper end IG of the limber joint I. A thrustl bearing I1 is located between the body member I0 and the collar I5. Keyways I8 are formed on the upper portion of the tube I4.

Keys I9 mounted on or formed integral with the stem 1 t into these keyways. The keys I9 slide in the keyways I8 as the stem 1 moves in a vertical direction relative to the tube I4 and the body member |0. The rotation of the drill string 5 and the limber joint 3 is transmitted through the keys |9 'to the tube I4, which in turn transmits the rotation to the limber joint I and the drill 2. The tube |4 also serves as a bearing to turn on the inside of the two body members 9 and I0.

It will thus be seen that the stem 1, the tube I4, the limber joint l and drill 2 will rotate with the drill string, while the body members 9 and I0 will not rotate; this action is permitted by the thrust bearings I2 and I1 which prevent excessive friction when pressure is applied through the drill string.

Attached to ther bottom of the stem 1 is a nut 20 which functions to hold the device together and limit the relative upward movement between l the parts of the assembly. When an upward forceL is applied to the stern 1, the nut 20 transmits the force through the collar I5 and the thrust bearing I1 and causes the body member I0 to be raised, along with the drill, when the stem 1 is raised.-

The nut 20.may slip down into the 'opening |6a in the upper portion I6 of the limber joint I.

Two arms 2| and 22 are pivoted to the body members 9 and I0 at 23 and 24 respectively, and

are pivoted together at 2B. The arms 2| and 22 are provided with sharp outer edges 25. A shear screw 21 secures the body member 9 to the tube I4 at such a position that the arms 2l and 22 are held nested within an aligned recess 28 in the body member. Preferably two pairs of arms 2| and 22 are-employed as shown in Figure 4.

When pressure is applied to the stem 1, the pressure is transmitted through the collar I I and the thrust bearing I2 to the body member 9. The screw 21 is constructed of a material which will permit` it to shear under this pressure, and the body member 9 will be moved downward, swinging the arms 2| and 22 outwardly about their re-l spective pivots 23 and 24 as shown in Figure 2.

Located on said body members 9 and I0, opposite the arms 2| and 22, are iins or blades 29. When pressure is applied to force the arms 2| and 22 outwardly, the edges 25 of the arms will contact one 'side of the wall of the bore and force the entire assemblage in the opposite direction so that the blades 29 will contact the opposite side of the wall. The body members 9 and I0.

the arms 2| and 22, and the blades 29 will not rotate but move downwardly as the drilling proceeds. The body members 2| and 22 and lthe blades 29 move in a straight line along the sides of the well. This action is due to the narrow edges 25 of the arms and the narrow ends of the blades which form cuts in the wall of the bore.

The extent of the deflection in the bore may be controlled by the pressure which is applied to the drill string at the surface of the well. If a large deflection in the bore is desired, a greater pressure will be exerted. This will cause the limber joints and a to bend or bow, as i1iustraned in Figure 1, to a greater extent. The greater pressure exerted on the stem 1 will also cause the arms 2| and 22' to be urged outwardly a greater vare then secured together with the shear screw means Vwhich might be substituted to urge the distance, and will assist in/ increasing the bending of the limber joints. When a relatively small amount of pressure is applied to the drill string the limber joints will bend to a lesser extent; the arms 2| and 22 will also be extended with less force. As a result the deection of the bore will be less. The drilling may be continuedQ without interruption until the bore has acquired the desired direction.

Screwedinto the upper bodymember 9 is a nut 30 through which the drill stem 1 may move. When the device is to be withdrawn from the bore, the drill string is raised, which in turn raises the stem 1. 'I'he collar acts against the nut 30 and through it raises the body member 9, bringing the arms 2| and 22 into nested position within the recess 28. The nut 20 engages the collar I5 and raises the limber joint I and the drill 2, as well as the body member I0. The device can then be withdrawn from the bore.

Before the device is to be used the bore is surveyed to determine the ydirection in which the deflection is to be made, and the amount of it required. The body member 9 and the tube I4 21, and the device is inserted into the bore with the arms 2| and 22 in properly oriented position. When the device is located at the bottom of the bore, pressure is applied to the drill string. The pressure is transmitted to the stem 1 with the resultthat the screw 21 shears. Continued pressure on the drill string causes the arms 2| and 22 to be extended laterally and causes the limber joints and 3 to bow in the properl direction.

The drilling may then proceed until the bore has the proper direction.

If it is desired the limber joint maybe omitted and the drill 2 secured directly to the collar I5. I intend such a modification to `be within the scope of. my invention.

The arms may be extended laterally by other means such as springs or similar resilient means; however, 'we find better control may be exerted in the form specifically disclosed. Arms may be provided which are extensible in parallelism generally with'the tool. The shear screw 21 may be replaced by a spring acting between the vbody members to hold them in predetermined relationship axially with the arms within the recesses; the force of such a spring would then be overcome by the pressure applied through tl'ie stem. It will be evident that the arms disclosed are the equivalent of cam means or other extensible drill laterally.

It will be obvious that many other modifica.- tions of the general and detailed structure of the device illustrated in the specication and accompanying drawing maybe made without departing fromfthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

' 1. A rotary earth boring device comprising a drill adapted to be secured to a rotatable drill stem and rotate,therewith, means movable axially with said drill and adapted to be held in nonrotatable position, and means mounted on only one side of said axially movable non-rotatable means laterally movable to engage one side of said bore and deflect said drill. 70 2. In an earth boring device, upper and lower limber joints, said upper limber joint being adapted to be secured to a rotatable drill stem and rotated, therewith, a drill attached to said lower. limber joint, means-connecting said limber joints v whereby said drill is rotatable with said drill stem, means movable axially with said limber joints and drill and adapted. o be held in nonrotatable position, and lateral extensible means mounted on only one side of said axially movable vnon-rotatable means laterally extensible to engage one side of the bore to deflect said drill.

3. In an earth boring device, 'a stem, a drill adapted'to be rotated with said stem, body members surrounding said stem, and movable axially relative to each other, and means adapted to move said stem and body members laterally of the axis of the bore, said means including laterallyl extensible means carried by said body members on only one side thereof and engageable with one side of the bore when said body members are moved relatively.

4. In an earth boring device, a stem, a drill adapted to be rotated with said stem, body members surrounding said stem and adapted to move axially with respect to each other, 'and' means adapted to move said stem and body members laterally of the axis of the bore, said means includirig arms pivoted to said body members on only one side thereof and adapted to be moved laterally when said body members are moved relatively.

5. In an earth boring device, a stem, a drill adapted to be rotated with said stem, body members surrounding said 'stem and adapted to move axially with respect to each other, means adapted to move said stem and body members laterally of the axis of the bore, said means including arms pivoted to said body members on only one side` thereof and adapted to be urged laterally when said body members are moved together, and means releasably holding said,v body members in relatively xed positions.

6. In an earth boring device, a limber member, a stem connected to said limbermember, a

drill adapted to be rotated with said stem, body members surrounding said stem and adapted to move axially with respect to each other, means adapted to move said stem and body members laterally of the axis of the bore, said means including arms pivoted to said body members on only one side thereof and adapted to be urged laterally when said body members are moved together, and means releasably holding said body members in relatively xed positions.

'7. In an earth boring device, a stem,v a drill adapted to be rotated with said stem, body members surrounding said stem having recesses therein and adapted to move axially with respect to each other, arms pivoted to said body members and normally located within said recesses, said arms being urged laterally when said body members are moved together.

8. In an earth boring device, an upper limber member, a stem connected to said. upper limber member, a lower limber member associated with said stem, a drill secured to said lower limber member,body members surrounding said stem having recesses therein and adapted to move axially with respect to each other, arms pivoted to said body members and normally located within said recesses, said arms being urged laterally when said body members are moved together.

9. In an earth boring device, a stem, a tube surrounding said stem, a drill associated with said tube, means connecting said stem to said tube whereby the rotation of the said stem is imparted to the drill, body members surrounding said tube having recesses therein and adapted to move axially with respect to each other, arms pivoted to said body members and normally located in said recesses, said arms being urged laterally when said body members are moved together.

l0. In an earth boring device, a stem, a tube surrounding said stem, a drill associated with said tube, means connecting said stem to said tube whereby the rotation of the said stem is imparted to the drill, upper and lower body members surrounding said tube having recesses therein and adapted to move axially with respect to each other, a collar attached to said stem adapted to transmit pressure from the stem to said -upper body member and move it toward said lower body member, arms pivoted to said body membersand normally located in said recesses, said arms being urged laterally when said body members are moved together.

ll. In an earth boring device, a stem, a tube surrounding said stem, a drill associated with s aid tube, means connecting said stem to said tube whereby the rotation of the said stem is imparted to the drill, upper and lower body members surrounding said tube having recesses therein and adapted to move axially with respect to each other, a collar attached to said stem adapted to transmit pressure from the stem to said upper body member to move it toward said lower body member, arms pivoted to said body members and normally located inI said recesses, said arms being urged laterally when said body members 4are moved together, means holding said upper body member in@ fixed position so that said arms are within said recesses, said holding means being adapted to be severed to permit said body members to be moved relative to each other to e move said arms laterally.

12. In an earth boring device, an upper limber member, a stem connected to said upper limber member, a tube surrounding said stem, a lower limber member connected with said tube, a drill connected with said lowerv limber member, means connecting said stem to said tube whereby the rotation of the said stem is imparted to the drill, upper and lower body members surrounding said tube having recessestherein and adapted to move axially with respect to each other, a collar-attachedto said stem adapted to transmit pressure from the stem to said upper body member to move it toward said lower body member, arms pivoted to said body members and normally located in said recesses, said arms being urged laterally when said body members are moved together, means holding said upper body member in a xed position so that said arms are within said recesses, said holding means being adapted to be severed to permit said body members to be moved relative to each otherto move said arms 

